Photos: Low-cost tech that meets basic needs

A carbon filter built into this Lifesaver bottle can filter bacteria, viruses, fungi, pesticides and hormone-disrupting industrial chemicals from polluted water. Inventor Michael Pritchard, who worked in the computer industry for a decade, was inspired to create the product after seeing problems caused by the lack of safe drinking water following the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Photo by Lifesaver Systems